Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji on Yugadi day after dolotsavam – Hyderabad – April 11, 2013
Rama raksha is considered to be the protection for the entire world (jagat raksha). Today let us say Sriguru Raksha is the jagat raksha. Just now we have witnessed Rakshaarchana (worship through raksha) conducted by the devotees. It was a wonderful seva. Many a times in the past we have witnessed the worship through flowers (pushpa archana) however today, for the first time, we have witnessed the worship through Rakshas (Raksha archana).
There are many devotees who insist upon receiving Raksha only from the hands of the Sadguru. Where the organizers announce that due to shortage of time, Swamiji cannot personally hand over the Raksha and that the volunteers will be distributing them, these devotees are upset. There are many who refuse to accept them from the hands of the assistants too. All such persons have been taught a wonderful lesson today. Today, Appaji has touched and blessed every Raksha offered here at His feet. With the implicit faith that Swamiji has given them personally to us, each of us should receive it from the volunteers who are distributing them.
We always read or hear various Charitra (stories) for example, we have heard the story of the emergence of Datta peetham, life history of Appaji, the stories of Hanuman (Anjaneya Charitra) stories of Datta (Datta Charitra) and the like. Now, on behalf of one and all, I pray to Swamiji to tell us the Charitra of this Raksha, how did this Raksha originate and how did Swamiji get this idea of creating this Raksha. This Shwetarka Raksha is made by retaining the Shwetarka root within. By tying this Raksha, entire difficulties of the devotees are nullified. How and when and under which circumstances did Amma (Jayalakshmi mata) pass on this knowledge to Appaji? I pray to Appaji that one day He should share with us with entire Raksha-Charitra.
In 1995, Appaji had initiated the Trinidad devotees into the mantra, ‘Om Aim Hreem Sreem Shivarama Anagha Dattaaya Namaha.” The Trinidad devotees completed crores (many millions) recitation of this mantra and thereafter conducted a yagna. Many a time, Swamiji has said that there is a very close connection between this Raksha and that Raksha mantra.
This Raksha is a divine protection. After wearing this Raksha on our body for 3 days or 7 days, we should remove it and tie to a living tree. Wearing this Raksha implies that Swamiji stays with us at a subtle (sookshma) level. He is flowing in our naadi mandala. This deep implicit faith should exist within us. Many people mistake it for some ordinary thread. Please understand that this is the ‘Guru Sampoorna Raksha’ which bestows the complete protection of the Guru.
Today Swamiji is giving a very special blessing. There are many devotees who refuse to remove the Raksha that they have tied to their hand. Months pass by. The Raksha that is tied to the hand, gets wet while bathing, dries in the sun, fades and tears but yet they will retain it upon their body. There were instances where Swamiji had personally told the devotee to untie the Raksha as it was stinking. Such is their love for their Raksha. Today, on this auspicious occasion Swamiji is stating that this body is itself a tree. Hence even after three days, the devotee can continue to wear the Raksha or remove it and keep it within the house. There is no need to tie it to a tree.
Karaikudi Mani, the great Mridamgam artist, had once made a very wonderful comment. He said that the flower that is received as a Prasada fades after a couple of days, the vibhuti or kumkum received also lasts for just a few days, edible Prasada gets digested in the stomach within an hour, but the Prasada that stays with the devotee for ever and ever is this ‘Raksha Prasada’ given by Swamiji. There is yet another Prasada that gets passed on to the next generation as well and this is- the Bhajana Prasada given by Appaji. His bhajans are useful to us, to our immediate family and to our future generations as well. Only our dear Appaji can give us such a wonderful Prasada. It is up to us to put it to appropriate use.
Jaya guru datta. Jai bolo sadgurunath maharaj ki jai.
Courtesy: Parimala Eshwarla